Secrets of the Manor House
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Narrated by:
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Melanie Fraser
About this listen
Featuring royal residences and aristocratic splendors such as Blenheim Palace and Highclere Castle - the setting for Downton Abbey - this wonderful publication delves into the history of some of Britain's most famous historic houses. Secrets of the Manor House provides a fascinating insight into life at these splendid properties down the centuries and profiles the celebrated personalities who have left their mark on these architectural masterpieces.
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What the Ermine Saw
- The Extraordinary Journey of Leonardo da Vinci's Most Mysterious Portrait
- By: Eden Collinsworth
- Narrated by: Cassandra Campbell
- Length: 5 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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Five hundred and thirty years ago, a young woman sat before a Grecian-nosed artist known as Leonardo da Vinci. Her name was Cecilia Gallerani, and she was the young mistress of Ludovico Sforza, duke of Milan. Sforza was a brutal and clever man who was mindful that Leonardo’s genius would not only capture Cecilia’s beguiling beauty but also reflect the grandeur of his title. But when the portrait was finished, Leonardo’s brush strokes had conveyed something deeper by revealing the essence of Cecilia’s soul.
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So Many Names
- By Sue Solomon on 12-13-22
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Henry VIII: King and Court
- By: Alison Weir
- Narrated by: Phyllida Nash
- Length: 25 hrs and 41 mins
- Unabridged
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This magnificent biography of Henry VIII is set against the cultural, social and political background of his court - the most spectacular court ever seen in England - and the splendour of his many sumptuous palaces. An entertaining narrative packed with colourful description and a wealth of anecdotal evidence, but also a comprehensive analytical study of the development of both monarch and court during a crucial period in English history.
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A concise focus with tremendous detail
- By kwdayboise (Kim Day) on 05-24-17
By: Alison Weir
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Elizabeth I
- A Captivating Guide to the Queen of England Who was the Last of the Five Monarchs of the House of Tudor
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Desmond Manny
- Length: 1 hr and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Elizabeth Tudor, daughter of the ill-fated Queen Anne Boleyn and temperamental King Henry VIII, was never meant to rule the country. Yet, when her time came, she didn’t stumble under the weight of the English crown. Elizabeth was perhaps the most intelligent, forward-thinking monarch who ever sat on the throne before or since. Her reign is responsible for the strength of the Royal Navy, the cultivation of fine arts, the long-term stability and safety of her nation from foreign attacks, and the first steps toward international colonization.
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Quite a History!
- By Brianna Denise Krooberg on 03-03-19
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Mary Boleyn
- By: Alison Weir
- Narrated by: Maggie Mash
- Length: 13 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
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Mary Boleyn was the mistress of two kings, Francois I of France and Henry VIII of England, and sister to Anne Boleyn, Henry VIII’s second wife. In this astonishing and riveting biography, Alison Weir’s extensive research gives a new and detailed portrayal, in which she recounts that, contrary to popular belief, Mary was entirely undeserving of her posthumous notoriety as a great whore.
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Historiography not a bio
- By Mary Elizabeth Reynolds on 06-03-12
By: Alison Weir
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Daughters of the Sun
- Empresses, Queens and Begums of the Mughal Empire
- By: Ira Mukhoty
- Narrated by: Shernaz Patel
- Length: 13 hrs and 8 mins
- Unabridged
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In 1526, when the nomadic Timurid warrior-scholar Babur rode into Hindustan, his wives, sisters, daughters, aunts and distant female relatives travelled with him. These women would help establish a dynasty and empire that would rule India for the next 200 years and become a byword for opulence and grandeur. In Daughters of the Sun, we meet remarkable characters like Khanzada Begum who, at 65, rode on horseback through 750 kilometres of icy passes and unforgiving terrain to parley on behalf of her nephew, Humayun....
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Repetitive Content
- By Sharmistha on 07-18-22
By: Ira Mukhoty
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The Louvre
- The Many Lives of the World's Most Famous Museum
- By: James Gardner
- Narrated by: Graham Halstead
- Length: 12 hrs and 47 mins
- Unabridged
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The fascinating and little-known story of the Louvre, from its inception as a humble fortress to its transformation into the palatial residence of the kings of France and then into the world's greatest art museum.
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Enlightening
- By Jean on 10-29-20
By: James Gardner
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Taj Mahal
- Passion and Genius at the Heart of the Moghul Empire
- By: Diana Preston, Michael Preston
- Narrated by: James Adams
- Length: 10 hrs
- Unabridged
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While Galileo was suffering under house arrest at the hands of Pope Urban VIII, the 30 Years War was ruining Europe, and the Pilgrims were struggling to survive in the New World, work began on what would become one of the Seven Wonders of the World: the Taj Mahal. Built by the Moghul emperor Shah Jahan as a memorial to his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, its flawless symmetry and gleaming presence have for centuries dazzled all who have seen it.
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A broad perspective
- By Neil on 11-01-09
By: Diana Preston, and others
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George and Marina
- Duke and Duchess of Kent
- By: Christopher Warwick
- Narrated by: Gildart Jackson
- Length: 7 hrs and 35 mins
- Unabridged
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For eight brief years, before he was tragically killed in a mysterious air crash during the Second World War, Prince George, Duke of Kent, son of King George V and Queen Mary, and his beautiful wife, Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark, were the British monarchy's - indeed, high society's - most glamorous royal couple; and as golden royal icons, they are still remembered.
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Engaging
- By Jean on 06-02-17
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The Medici
- Power, Money, and Ambition in the Italian Renaissance
- By: Paul Strathern
- Narrated by: Derek Perkins
- Length: 16 hrs and 21 mins
- Unabridged
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Against the background of an age that saw the rebirth of ancient and classical learning, Paul Strathern explores the intensely dramatic rise and fall of the Medici family in Florence as well as the Italian Renaissance, which they did so much to sponsor and encourage. Interwoven into the narrative are the lives of many of the great Renaissance artists with whom the Medici had dealings, including Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Donatello as well as scientists like Galileo and Pico della Mirandola.
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Fun Story Bad History
- By Elizabeth Barrett on 05-09-16
By: Paul Strathern
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Paris, City of Dreams
- Napoleon III, Baron Haussmann, and the Creation of Paris
- By: Mary McAuliffe
- Narrated by: Tim H. Dixon
- Length: 12 hrs and 34 mins
- Unabridged
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Acclaimed historian Mary McAuliffe vividly recaptures the Paris of Napoleon III, Claude Monet, and Victor Hugo as Georges Haussmann tore down and rebuilt Paris into the beautiful City of Light we know today. Paris, City of Dreams traces the transformation of the City of Light during Napoleon III’s Second Empire into the beloved city of today.
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Outstanding! Entertaining and informative
- By SF Insider on 11-03-22
By: Mary McAuliffe
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The Tudors: A Captivating Guide to the History of England from Henry VII to Elizabeth I
- By: Captivating History
- Narrated by: Desmond Manny
- Length: 3 hrs and 10 mins
- Unabridged
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Five Tudor monarchs sat on the throne of England and Ireland from 1485 to 1603. The family earned their royal rights through strategic planning and battlefield prowess, and kept them because of intellect, strength, and sheer determination. The Tudors, one of England’s most powerful and famous royal dynasties, knitted together a fragmented and small island nation that became one of the world’s financial, colonial, and technological superpowers.
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In-depth Story
- By Gail Bishop on 10-16-18
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The Women of the Cousins' War
- The Duchess, the Queen and the King's Mother
- By: Philippa Gregory, David Baldwin, Michael Jones
- Narrated by: Bianca Amato
- Length: 9 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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In her essay on Jacquetta, Philippa Gregory uses original documents, archaeology and histories of myth and witchcraft to create the first-ever biography of the young duchess who was to survive two reigns and two wars to become the first lady at two rival courts. David Baldwin, established author on the Wars of the Roses, tells the story of Elizabeth Woodville, the first commoner to marry a king of England for love, and Michael Jones, fellow of the Royal Historical Society, writes of Margaret Beaufort, the almost-unknown matriarch of the House of Tudor. The Women of the Cousins’ War will appeal to all.
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Great book
- By Stacey Wallace on 11-14-11
By: Philippa Gregory, and others
What listeners say about Secrets of the Manor House
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Deedra
- 11-17-16
Secrets
Melanie Fraser perfectly narrates this short story giving us the story behind many manor houses in Britain.I enjoyed it.I was given this book free for an honest review.
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- The book lover
- 03-07-16
Love this book
I loved this book. It just has everything historical and a bit of spooky ghosts
You can always find a full and Deep review on my blog
Best wishes
ReadingGhost ( blogspot.dk)
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- PATRICIA
- 02-26-16
Ready to tour the castles!
This book is a nice change of pace for me. Wanting to visit England, it has given me a good sense of the history of the castles and their history. I enjoyed learning the family secrets of King Henry VIII, but my favorite was of Lady Diana, always love hearing about her history. The information regarding possible hauntings always catches my interest as well, would love to do a ghost tour if available! I think this book also has an added fantastic touch by starting with the castle from Downtown Abbey, it gives you something to relate to right off.
The regal voice of Melanie Fraser gives this book the perfect narration. She makes the book alive and gives the book the touch of class it deserves.
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- Julie
- 02-25-16
Interesting
This book is told in short story type form about some of the manor houses in England. I guess one of the more famous would be where Downton Abbey was filmed. The author did a nice job in giving just enough information to make it interesting, but not a lot of boring details to make the story drag. The narrator had an excellent voice for the story.
I don't think I'd pay a full credit for this, but it's worth it if you can get it at a bit lower price.
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- Teresa
- 02-29-16
Wonderful History of Manors and Castles
SECRETS OF THE MANOR HOUSE is a fabulous audiobook that tells of the most famous manors and castles including the history of each. To name a few are Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed and where the original owner discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen, Hampton Court Palace linked to Henry Vlll, Althorp Manor connected to the Spencer's and Lady Diana, and Ham House that's said to be the most haunted castle in Britain, and many more. I loved listening to this audiobook.
MELANIE FRASER has the most lovely voice ever. I could listen to her all day. She was the perfect narrator for this audiobook. I felt as if I've traveled around England, Great Britain, Wales and Scotland with the best tour guide on the planet. She has excellent voice inflections and made this an amazing listen.
(I have toured a few castles in Germany and Austria). I love history and this was a great book.
Audiobook gifted in exchange for an honest review.
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- Mary
- 07-26-16
Interesting Short About Historical English Estates
I received this book in return for a review. Although I love history, I feared that this book may end up being a bore.
I was pleasantly surprised. Although there were a few areas that dragged, overall the book was very interesting, entertaining and informative.
There were some very interesting bits of trivia and anecdotes about the estates and their past owners.
The narration was well done with a very pleasant voice.
For any one with an interest in English history this will be an enjoyable short listen.
“This audiobook was given by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Boom.”
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- Leslie F.
- 05-01-16
Interesting overview of manors in British Isles
This was a really interesting non-fiction book about the different manors, palaces, etc. in the British Isles. If you have ever watched shows like Downtown Abbey or Upstairs, Downstairs, I think this book will be interesting to you. You will learn about the different places, the history behind them, intrigues that took place in them, and more. One of the most interesting that I learned about was Highclere Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed and where the original owner discovered the tomb of King Tutankhamen. I've always been fascinated with these famous estates, so it was interesting to learn the history behind them. I listened to the Audible version, narrated by Melanie Fraser, enjoyed the narration. Overall, an interesting, short history (I think the audio is about an hour and a half), that is definitely worth listening to.
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- Reg
- 03-04-16
Interesting Listen
Any additional comments?
This book is a really good listen if you will be visiting the UK in the near future. Many of the houses are open to the public to either view or stay in. I would say that the title is misleading as there really are no secrets told as part of this book. The author is repeating the history of each house and highlighting who the most famous owners or occupants have been and describing any scandals they were involved in. There is also some detail for each house that has been used as the backdrop for movies or TV shows as well.
I would have enjoyed the book more had the author gone into the detail of the history of each house and its most famous occupants a little more. I felt like there was more to the story at each stop.
I like the narrator's voice and she gave the reading the right tone and pace.
I was provided this audiobook at no charge by the author, publisher and/or narrator in exchange for an unbiased review via Audiobook Blast.
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- Sara O'Hagan
- 04-03-16
Interesting Full Read
I listened to this book after having watched Downton Abbey. I was interested in the history behind that particular home. I found that history interesting. I like how the show found small ways to incorporate the actual history of the house into some of the story lines. The history of the other homes and castles were interesting in their own right and I enjoyed hearing about them as well.
This audiobook was provided by the author, narrator, or publisher at no cost in exchange for an unbiased review courtesy of Audiobook Blast."
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1 person found this helpful
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- Mary Karowski
- 03-07-16
Great short overview and introduction to British Royal estates
It was extremely interesting. It didn't have any depth in any particular estate. Coerced art architecture hitter of ownership and even tidbits about various hauntings. Enjoyable listen. I received this audiobook from the author narrator or publisher for free via audiobookblast in exchange for an unbiased review
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1 person found this helpful